PCB happy with bilateral series deals in new FTP

Karachi: A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that it had got a good deal in finalising its bilateral series with other countries in the new future tours program of the International Cricket Council (ICC) that will run from 2015 to 2023.

"The new FTP is good for Pakistan cricket mainly because we have also managed to get a firm commitment from the Indian board in writing that they will play six series against us in this period," chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmad told PTI.

He said in the past there had been discussions on bilateral matches with India but nothing came on paper.

"This time everything is on paper and the Indians have put these six series in their FTP as well with scheduled itinerary and dates. If there is no issue with government clearance the first series will be held on schedule in entire December 2015 in UAE," Ahmad said.

He said in the new FTP the Indians have clearly given exact dates for their matches against Pakistan and also confirmed color codings.

"They are committed to playing against us and we host four of these series which will be a big financial boost for us," he added.

India have not played a bilateral series with Pakistan after 2007 because of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

The senior official said that despite the fact that Pakistan was late in finalizing bilateral agreements with other countries under the new governance system of the ICC it had still managed considerable success.

"Zakir Khan and Usman Wahla have done a lot of homework on this and recently tied up a number of bilateral series."

He said Pakistan would also host England in winter of 2015 for a full series.

He said Pakistan would approximately play around 78 Tests in the new FTP besides one-day internationals and T20 matches.

Asked about why leading Teams like South Africa, Australia or India had not given four or five Test match series to Pakistan, Ahmad said by the time Pakistan inked the bilateral agreements other countries had signed other series.

"But the FTP is a good one for our cricket and we play against all leading nations."

Besides the series with India, Pakistan will play 14 Tests and 22 ODIs and 3 T20 matches with Australia in the new FTP followed by 16 Tests, 18 ODIs and 9 T20 matches against England.

It also plays 13 Tests, 3 ODIs and 8 T20 matches with New Zealand, 10 Tests, 18 ODIs and 4 T20 matches with Sri Lanka, 3 Tests, 3 ODIs and 2 T20 matches with Zimbabwe and six Tests and 8 ODIs with West Indies.

Ahmad said bilateral matches could also be added to the FTP with mutual agreement with other countries.